Ye Jacobites by Name
Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ye Jacobites by name give an ear
Ye Jacobites by name your faults I will proclaim
Your doctrines I maun blame, you shall hear.
Your doctrines I maun blame, you shall hear.
What is right and what is wrang by the law, by the law
What is right and what is wrang by the law
A weak arm and a strang for to draw.
What makes heroic strife famed afar, famed afar?
What makes heroic strife famed afar?
What makes heroic strife, to whet the assassin's knife
Or hunt a parent's life with bloody war, bloody war
Or hunt a parent's life with bloody war, bloody war
Then let your schemes alone in the state, in the state
Then let your schemes alone in the state
Then leave your schemes alone, adore the rising sun
And leave a man alone to his fate...
And leave a man alone to his fate.
In "Ye Jacobites by Name," Ewan Maccoll and Peggy Seeger condemn the Jacobites, who were supporters of the exiled King James II and his descendants’ claims to the throne, for their misguided ideologies and harmful actions. The lyrics begin with a call to the Jacobites to listen, as the singers plan to “proclaim” their faults and criticize their doctrines. The second verse poses a series of questions regarding what distinguishes right from wrong, and suggests that violence and aggression will not lead to heroic deeds or acclaim. The final stanza advises the Jacobites to abandon their schemes and accept the changing political landscape, rather than launching bloody wars and attempting to overthrow the government.
Overall, the song is a clear warning against blind adherence to a failing cause and a condemnation of the harm that can come from such actions. It is a commentary on the political climate of the time and serves as a reminder of the dangers of extremism.
Line by Line Meaning
Ye Jacobites by name give an ear, give an ear
Listen up, oh Jacobites, to what I must say
Ye Jacobites by name your faults I will proclaim
I will expose the flaws of the Jacobite movement
Your doctrines I maun blame, you shall hear.
I must criticize your beliefs, and you must listen
What is right and what is wrang by the law, by the law
What is legal and what is illegal determines right and wrong
What is right and what is wrang, a short sword and a lang
What is right and wrong sometimes depends on whether you have a strong or a weak weapon
What makes heroic strife famed afar, famed afar?
What causes wars to be glorified and remembered throughout history?
What makes heroic strife, to whet the assassin's knife
Sometimes heroic battle is merely an excuse for murder
Or hunt a parent's life with bloody war, bloody war
Or it involves brutally killing a mother or father
Then let your schemes alone in the state, in the state
So abandon your schemes for revolution
Then leave your schemes alone, adore the rising sun
Instead, focus on positive change and progress
And leave a man alone to his fate...
And let people accept the consequences of their own actions
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.